Synthesis of Pleuromutilin

Synthesis of a potent inhibitor of bacterial protein synthesis, pleuromutilin, is described. Assembly of the critical cyclooctane fragment relies on an oxidative ring-expansion, and complete stereochemical relay in the synthetic sequence is enabled by the judicious choice of tactics. The requisite connectivity pattern of the perhydroindanone motif is rapidly established in a sequence of cycloaddition and radical cyclization events. Application of this strategy allows for preparation of the target natural product in 16 steps from commercially available material.

Recent Progress in Organophotoredox Reaction

In the past decade, visible light photoredox catalysis has been established as a gentle and powerful strategy for the activation of organic molecules. As an important part of it, organic...

Decarboxylative C–H alkylation of heteroarenes by copper catalysis

A copper-catalyzed decarboxylative C–H alkylation of heteroarenes with alkyl carboxylic acids has been realized.

Generation of Alkyl Radicals: From the Tyranny of Tin to the Photon Democracy

Alkyl radicals are key intermediates in organic synthesis. Their classic generation from alkyl halides has a severe drawback due to the employment of toxic tin hydrides to the point that "flight from the tyranny of tin" in radical processes was considered for a long time an unavoidable issue. This review summarizes the main alternative approaches for the generation of unstabilized alkyl radicals, using photons as traceless promoters. The recent development in photochemical and photocatalyzed processes enabled the discovery of a plethora of new alkyl radical precursors, opening the world of radical chemistry to a broader community, thus allowing a new era of photon democracy.

Synthesis of substituted 2-alkylquinolines by visible-light photoredox catalysis

A simple and efficient protocol for the synthesis of substituted 2-alkylquinoline scaffolds was developed by employing visible-light photoredox catalysis.

Aerobic C(sp3)–H oxidation and oxygenation of quaternarized quinolines and pyridines by visible-light-induced photocatalysis

One stone two birds: two kinds of oxygenation products (>60 new products) including carboxylate inner salts and alcohols have been accessed under mild aerobic photocatalysis.

Photocatalyst-free decarboxylative aminoalkylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with N-aryl glycines enabled by visible light

A novel, green and efficient visible-light-promoted decarboxylative aminoalkylation reaction of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with N-aryl glycines has been described.

Visible light-mediated organophotocatalyzed C-H bond functionalization reactions

Over the last decade, a variety of methodologies for the direct functionalization of C-H bonds have been developed. Among others, visible light photoredox reactions have recently emerged as one of the most efficient and highly selective processes for the direct introduction of a functionality into organic molecules. Easy reaction setups, as well as mild reaction conditions, make this approach superior to other methodologies applying transition metals or strong oxidants, in terms of both costs and substrate and functional group tolerance. In this review, the recent developments in organophotocatalyzed C-H bond functionalization reactions are presented.

Photochemical C–H bond coupling for (hetero)aryl C(sp2)–C(sp3) bond construction

This review highlights the recent advances in photochemical (hetero)aryl C(sp²)–C(sp³) bond construction via C–H bond coupling such as (hetero)arylation of C(sp³)–H bonds and alkylation of (hetero)aryl C(sp²)–H bonds.